Nigeria has reported 1,307 suspected cases of cholera in 30 states and 98 Local Government Areas, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.
Speaking at the national health security press briefing in Abuja, NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris said that the nation also had 34 cholera-related fatalities, bringing the Case Fatality Rate to 2.6%, above the goal of less than 1%.
According to him, cholera is still a common disease in Nigeria, especially in areas with poor access to sanitary facilities and clean water. It is brought on by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae and is extremely contagious. If treatment is not received promptly, it can be fatal.
He cautioned that a worrying pattern in cholera transmission is beginning to emerge as the nation gets closer to the height of the rainy season.
“The proactive dissemination of localised flood risk data is expected to drive coordinated action at the federal, state, and community levels, ensuring timely interventions that can help prevent waterborne disease outbreaks like cholera. NCDC is actively tracking these occurrences.
“As of epidemiological week 16 (ending 20 April 2025), 1,307 suspected cases of cholera have been reported across 30 states and 98 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with 34 associated deaths, resulting in a CFR of 2.6 per cent. This rate is well above our target of less than one per cent,” he said.
When the bacterium Vibrio cholerae is consumed by tainted food or water, it can lead to cholera, a foodborne illness.
The excrement of diseased people typically pollute water. Drinking water can get contaminated at the source, while being transported, or while being stored at home. Soiled hands can contaminate food while it is being prepared or while it is being consumed.
Cooked vegetables and fruits freshened with untreated wastewater have also been implicated as vehicles of gearbox, as have ice, commercially packaged water and beverages made with polluted water and marketed by street vendors.
The incubation period, or the interval between infection and symptom onset, can range from two hours to five days. It is more likely to spread in places without frequent access to clean water and/or proper sanitary facilities. The safety of drinking and personal water is threatened by unsafe activities including open defecation and inappropriate trash disposal.
People of all ages who live in areas with poor sanitation and poor hygiene, in slum areas without basic water or sanitation infrastructure, in rural areas that rely on surface water or unsafe piped or borehole well water sources for drinking, those who eat potentially contaminated food or fruits without properly washing and cooking them, and those who do not practise hand hygiene at the right times are the people most at risk of contracting cholera, according to Idris.
Other risk factors, he added, include natural or man-made disasters like floods that cause population shifts and overcrowded refugee camps, family members who tend to cholera patients at home, and medical professionals like doctors, nurses, lab scientists, and others who directly care for patients without following standard precautions.
“The symptoms of cholera include acute, profuse, painless watery diarrhoea (characteristic rice water stools) of sudden onset, with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting and fever. Severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration (massive body fluid loss). However, most infected people (about 80 per cent) may only show mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
“The disease is easily treatable if detected early. Most infected people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution to replace lost fluids and electrolytes and appropriate antibiotics. The ORS solution is a powder that can be reconstituted in boiled or bottled water. Cholera can be deadly when infected people do not access care immediately.
“Cholera can be prevented through ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal; and appropriate hygiene including handwashing. Raw fruits and vegetables, food from street vendors, and raw or undercooked seafood should be avoided,” he added.
In order to lower the risk of cholera, he advised the public to use alcohol-based hand sanitiser, practise good personal hygiene, make sure that food is thoroughly cooked before consumption, avoid open defecation, and dispose of waste carelessly. He also suggested that water be boiled and kept in a clean, covered container before drinking.
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By closely following infection prevention and control procedures, reporting suspected cases to the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, and teaching patients and community members about preventive measures, he advised health professionals to play a critical role in identifying and managing cholera cases.
Additionally, he counselled State Governments to give priority to solutions that guarantee people have access to and use safe water, basic sanitation, and good hygiene practices.
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“To ensure readiness and early control, the NCDC is implementing cholera readiness workshops in the South-West and North-West to enhance preparedness and response capacity. Similar ones are planned for the South-south, North-east, and North-central zones of the country in May.
“Treatment protocols disseminated to all states, prepositioned response commodities (cholera test kits, etc.) with appropriate training, 134 Local Government Areas classified as hotspots have been prioritised for multisectoral intervention, including potential RRT deployment; risk communication materials reviewed and updated and airing to commence immediately. 36 plus one states are currently being assessed for readiness for cholera outbreaks.
“While new cholera cases remain relatively low, their spread across 30 states amid the rainy season underscores the need for sustained vigilance. We call for intensified multisectoral collaboration especially in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to prevent further transmission and reduce mortality,” he said.
He went on to say that the agency is still dedicated to spearheading a coordinated national response and is collaborating closely with partners and state governments to guarantee prompt assistance and frequent updates.
